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Milk teeth are not as strong and durable as adult teeth. But even before milk teeth appear, there are things parents can do to ensure their child’s long-term dental health.

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In this guide, we will take you through the stages of your child’s development to highlight the main challenges and recommend the best routines.

Teething

Most babies are born without teeth; it takes about 6–9 months for the first milk teeth to appear. Milk teeth will start breaking through gums, often causing discomfort, mild swelling and episodes of slight fever. This is all normal. Your baby’s gums can handle the emergence of milk teeth, so you don’t need to medicate or try to alleviate their pain all the time.

A common mistake is trying to eliminate all possible discomfort by excessive use of anaesthetic tooth gel, sanitising, alcohol-based solutions or even giving medication to babies to relieve the pain. Teething is a natural process – it can be unpleasant, but overmedicating a baby can be incredibly dangerous. Here is what you can do instead:

Use a teething ring to ease your baby’s discomfort. This ring helps both relieve the pain and develop your baby’s motor skills. Curaprox has a selection of teething rings that are safe and stimulating. The tactile and visual textures of the ring stimulate the sensory system, whilst a built-in rattle will attract your baby’s attention. Your baby will bite into the ring, minimising the pain and stimulating the gums for easier teething.

Keep using the teething ring after the first tooth appears. Babies can feel the urge to stimulate their gums well into months 16–18.

Gently wipe your baby’s face with a clean damp cloth. The baby will salivate a lot during teething, and excessive saliva can irritate their skin.

Let them teethe. Soothe and calm your baby, but do it in person, not through medication, pills or alcohol-containing solutions.

Contact your pediatrician if teething is accompanied by prolonged spikes in temperature, diarrhoea and other severe symptoms. Do not give your baby any medication without consulting your pediatrician first.

The Curaprox Teething Ring

• Helps relieve the discomfort caused by teething
• Textures, colours and sounds stimulate the brain
• Built-in toothbrush for your child’s first brushing experience
• Biofunctional, toxin-free and safe
• Compatible with the Curaprox Soother Holder to keep the ring off the floor
• Suitable throughout the entire teething phase

Using soothers

Soothers (also known as dummys or pacifiers) can help your child stay relaxed, sleep better and feel less anxiety when the mother is away. However, their prolonged use can interfere with the development of the mouth, jaw and teeth, unless a properly designed soother is used.

Things to look for in a soother:

  • Soft silicone to imitate the natural feel of a nipple.
  • A flat tip that works well with the palate and prevents an open bite.
  • A rounded shape that prevents misalignment of teeth: the front needs to be slightly arched, spreading the suction pressure over to the jawbone and not the teeth.
  • A breathable design that promotes proper breathing through the nose, not the mouth.

Soothers are developed in different sizes based on your child’s weight, so make sure you pick the right size for your baby.

Remember that a soother is not a replacement for interaction. The best place a baby can be is always with their parent or carer, but a soother can be used as a temporary measure to ease anxiety or keep them calm when, for example, they sleep or you take your child for a walk.

The Curaprox Soother

• Soft silicone imitates the natural feel of a nipple, and promotes swallowing
• A flat tip to prevent an open bite and allow for proper development of the palate
• A rounded arch-like shape to prevent misalignment of teeth
• Promotes breathing through the nose
• Three different sizes, to perfectly fit your child
• Biofunctional, toxin-free and safe
• Compatible with the Curaprox Soother Holder

Taking care of the first milk teeth

Your child will be using their milk teeth for a good 7–12 years, after which they will be replaced by adult teeth. During this time it is important to preserve milk teeth and make sure they are replaced naturally with the corresponding permanent tooth. If your child loses a milk tooth to caries or injury, there is a good chance that their adult teeth will be displaced. Caries can also spread to the upcoming adult tooth. This will require orthodontic treatment in the future.

One of the key challenges with milk teeth is caries. Because of our modern diets, our teeth are under a lot of chemical stress:

  • Processed foods are often high in sugar, which is the main nutrient to bacteria that breed in our mouths. Our bodies are not equipped to naturally counteract such high levels of sugar, so we need extra help.
  • Soda drinks are often not only sugary, but also contain high amounts of acids that offset the chemical balance in the enamel. It is dangerous for adult teeth, and even more dangerous for the thinner enamel in milk teeth.
  • Children tend to be less disciplined than adults, so they can skip brushing more often. Combined with sugary and acidic diets, this can lead to rapid tooth decay and orthodontic problems later in life.

Here is what you can do:

Brush your teeth together. As early as you can, start brushing your baby’s teeth. Use a specialised brush for children, like the Curaprox Baby toothbrush. Brush the teeth together: first, you brush your teeth as your child watches. Then, you let the child brush their teeth on their own. Finally, you help them finish brushing with a proper technique.

Here is what to do for best results:

  1. Put the baby on your lap with their back to you and their head resting against your chest. The baby needs to feel the comfort and care. 
  2. Brush their teeth using small circles, making sure you cover all the surfaces.
  3. As your child gets older, stand behind them, tilting their head backwards.

The Curaprox Baby toothbrush comes in packages of two, for a reason. Give one to your child for experimentation: get them to try brushing themselves, teach them about brushing and let them do it on their own. But as your child experiments, the brush will get bent out of shape very quickly, which is normal. You can then use the second brush included in the brush set to carefully brush your child’s teeth.

Toothpaste is also recommended for young children because it contains fluoride, which is important for the development of strong and healthy teeth. A rice-sized amount of toothpaste is usually enough.

❤️ It’s a good idea to make brushing a comfortable and desired experience for your child. If you rush, press too hard or cover just one side of your child’s teeth, the child will learn an improper brushing technique or, even worse, will tend to avoid brushing altogether. Make sure your child loves brushing and does it regularly, not just when you are watching or taking charge.

For babies: Curaprox Baby

• Your baby’s first toothbrush
• Ultra-soft high-density bristles for gentle and efficient cleaning. Protects the enamel and the tissues in your child’s mouth
• Small brush head optimized for babies
• Rubberized head and handle for softness and protection
• Textures and colors stimulate the brain
• Rounded handle with extra grip help children learn to brush
• A special stand keeps the brush upright, helps maintain order and dry the brush between sessions
• Biofunctional, toxin-free and safe

Here are the four stages of tooth cleaning with your child:

  1. Dependent cleaning (first tooth)
    You clean your child’s teeth while they experiment with the brush and learn about brushing.
  2. Supported cleaning (2,5 y. o.)
    Your child’s first attempts at independent brushing. Teach them the proper technique and make sure they are accustomed to brushing all areas.
  3. Supervised cleaning (9 y. o.)
    Lead your child by example and make sure the entire family follows the proper brushing rituals.
  4. Independent brushing (young adults)
    Teach your children about the costs of dental treatment vs. dental prophylaxis.

Developing proper habits for life

Your child learns from you and from the things you do together. Make sure that the example you give to your child leads them to proper oral hygiene habits in their future adult life.

Daily rituals

You absolutely can not skip brushing – your child copies your behaviour and learns from you. Your rigid daily routines are imprinted in the habits that your child will carry through life.

Regular dental check-ups

Do not wait for teeth to start hurting before going to the dentist. Make regular appointments with your dentist at least once a year (twice is better), and have your child examined too. Your child needs to understand the importance of prevention over treatment. 

Your child’s first dental appointment can happen right after your baby’s first birthday.

Proper diet

Try keeping sweets, chocolate, fruit juices and soda drinks to the minimum – not only in your child’s diet, but also in your own diet. Your child needs to see you enjoy healthy foods and approach high-sugar content foods with caution and moderation.

How to get your children to brush? Dental professionals share their advice

It’s hard to get children to brush properly, especially at an early age. What’s even harder is helping them build a habit that will last a lifetime. 

We asked dental professionals, who work closely with Curaden, about their experience in getting children to brush: what are the best techniques and what are the mistakes to avoid?

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Let your kid choose a toothbrush and a toothpaste they enjoy

Picking the right aids (like toothbrushes and toothpastes) can be the simplest and most straightforward way to set up a proper long-lasting routine. We talked to Judy Bendit RDH, BS, clinical dental hygienist and educator from the United States. Here is her advice:

“It’s not just kids. Grown-ups skip brushing all the time, because for them it can be unpleasant too. Some toothbrushes can feel uncomfortable in your mouth, so I suggest you take the time to pick a brush with the head size that’s not too big, not too small. Soft and ultrasoft bristles work well. 

Some toothpastes can leave an unpleasant aftertaste in your mouth, so just pick a toothpaste that you enjoy. When you genuinely enjoy brushing, you are less likely to skip.

The same goes for children. Let them pick the brush they like but make sure it has a comfortable head size and very soft bristles. Try different toothpastes until your child finds one they enjoy using.

But don’t overlook the paste’s contents. When teeth are just forming, a small amount of fluoride is important. Choose the paste based on how much fluoride it contains and how sensitive your child’s mouth is. 

The recommended amount of fluoride in toothpaste for children:

• 6 months to 2 years: 500 ppm
• 2 to 6 years: 1,000 (+) ppm
• 6+ years: 1,450 ppm

Source: European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry

How much toothpaste does your child need? For children up to three years old, a rice grain-sized smear is enough. For older children, use a pea-sized amount.

Using an electric toothbrush can be an exciting option if your kids enjoy the way it works and feels. Playing their favourite music can keep them engaged: for example, they have to brush for the whole song. This will encourage brushing for the right amount of time. There are apps that can help motivate too.”

“Parents have to brush twice a day and make sure their children know that this is done in the family. Make it a family event every morning and night.”

However, Judy adds, proper brushes and pastes are not the primary goal: 

“Hands down, the best way to get your children to brush is to lead by example. Parents have to brush twice a day and make sure their children know that this is done in the family.

Make it a family event every morning and night. Brush together. We have a saying: ‘A family that brushes together stays healthy together’”.

Logical reasoning vs. games: what works best at an early age

On many parenting sites and forums, you’ll see advice on how to turn brushing into a game, like challenging your children to brush against the clock or going on a quest. How effective are those techniques and do they have any side effects?

“We sometimes assume that small children are as smart and conscious as us grown-ups. But long-term thinking, willpower and discipline are very hard-to-master skills at an early age.”

We talked to Silvia Per, a paediatric dentist and PhD candidate in Bucharest:

“Tactics like games, challenges and ‘let’s do what parents do’ – these work for children who are very small, usually before the age of 3. Children at this age don’t yet have the capacity to adjust their actions for long-term consequences. So yes, before roughly age 3 we need these short-term tactics to establish routines and rituals.

We sometimes assume that small children are as smart and conscious as us grown-ups. But long-term thinking, willpower and discipline are very hard-to-master skills at an early age. 

Some parents believe that they can explain to a 2-year-old the need for brushing and oral hygiene. So, they tend to wait for the child to give their consent. But since the child does not give it, and the parents don’t want to put pressure on the child, the teeth are left unbrushed. This is clearly not the way to establish a healthy routine. 

“When parents are determined and feel it is important, they will find ways to clean their children’s teeth.”

At such an early age the child barely even understands the need for a regular bath. It takes time and experience to learn such things, so reasoning and negotiating with the child simply won’t work. Not yet. 

Also, frankly speaking, parents don’t always consider brushing very important at this age. So the education should be focused on the parent, too. When parents are determined and feel it is important, they will find ways to clean their children’s teeth.”

Eight playful ways to teach your kid to brush teeth well and regularly

1. Favourite songs

Play a song your children enjoy and get them to brush for the entire song. Brush with them at the same time.

2. Find the animal

Pretend you are searching for your child’s favourite animal on their teeth (with a toothbrush). First search on the back of their teeth, then on the front, top and bottom. Find brushing rhymes in your language for more fun.

3. Sugar bugs

Tell a tale of ‘sugar bugs’ that hide in the mouth and need to be cleaned out. Direct your child with the story to go through all teeth. 

4. Stories

Tell stories of a toothbrush going through the valleys and mountains looking for adventures and meeting exciting characters along the way. Brush as you tell the story.

5. Favourite toy

Have your child’s favourite toy sit near the mirror where you brush and tell a story of why brushing is important (all while brushing), give brushing directions and congratulate the child on successful brushing. If your child is young enough to believe it’s their toy talking, this strategy works. 

6. Let the child brush your teeth first 

Invite the child to try to brush your teeth first, like you need help. Then offer to brush your child’s teeth or let them brush themselves.

7. Get it right

Have your child correct you before getting ready to brush. For example, start by brushing your child’s ears, nose or belly. Laugh and enjoy this time with the child, until they offer to brush properly.

8. Compete with a parent

Start brushing together and see who finishes last.

Can games create negative side effects? Avoid these incentives

We asked Silvia about the worst rules and incentives to such games. This is her advice: 

“The worst incentive I’ve seen in my career was this: parents based their child’s pocket money on how many times he brushed his teeth, which is basically paying their child to brush. 

This is probably the worst way to incentivise brushing, since the child firmly learns that toothbrushing is just a favour to someone else, not something that will make their own health better. I don’t recommend such an approach to anyone: not children, not adults.

The same is true about coming to the dentist. Parents often promise their children rewards when they are on the dental chair. 

For example, they promise that after treatment, they’ll buy the child a toy. This is done to make the child understand and accept the treatment, but in 99% of these cases kids leave the chair without the treatment done, no matter the reward. 

“Children need to understand from a very early age that taking care of their teeth is about caring for themselves, not about achieving some external benchmark or gaining some resource.”

Usually what does the trick for me is explaining to the child that they came in my office for help, because it’s them who needs a check-up or a filling. 

In my experience, children need to understand from a very early age that taking care of their teeth is about caring for themselves, not about achieving some external benchmark or gaining some resource. 

As adults we can help them understand in a playful way, by telling stories or playing games.

For example, I tell children a story about bacteria that accumulate on their teeth when they don’t brush, or a story about a tooth that wants to be clean the same way we clean our fingers, toes and face.”

No rush, let your child practise brushing

According to Silvia, parents need to be aware of their child’s learning curve and know when to help them.

“When children start brushing at an early age, they might at first lack the necessary motor skills. They look at their parents and want to brush their teeth like the grown-ups, but they move the brush in one place, struggle with getting the brush to the molars, bite the head or can’t handle the toothpaste. To a parent, this can be mildly annoying, but that is perfectly natural.

“Children need to actually learn and train themselves to brush; it’s not a natural talent that everyone is born with.”

We must understand that the motor skills we take for granted (like precisely moving our hands) are something that a child acquires with time and practice. 

Children need to actually learn and train themselves to brush; it’s not a natural talent that everyone is born with. And practising is the only way to achieve mastery. 

If you see your child struggling with a brush, don’t rush to correct them. Give them time to practise and learn. And if, after some time, you see that the child is stuck, give help: direct movements or offer to finish brushing with your caring hands. Do not rush, though: proper skill is only learned through practice.”

Should parents finish brushing after their children? (Yes!)

Silvia Per shares her insight: 

“I strongly support parents helping to brush their children’s teeth all the way until the children are eight years old. 

A small child won’t be able to properly brush and clean out all the germs at an early age – at least, it’s very challenging. I explain to them that at 4 years old their child is unable to follow all the steps to good cleaning. 

Children’s teeth with highlighted places which are most prone to plaque, according to Silvia Per

Here is what I do: I show both the parents and the child the places loaded with plaque. I make them understand that this can be avoided if they do it together, as a team. I present the brushing techniques to both parents and children so the small ones know and practise, but the parents should definitely finish it.”

Checklist: getting your children to brush properly

  • For children under 3 years old, use games, apps, challenges and other motivating techniques.
  • For older children, rely on self-motivation. Teach children empowerment and self-care ethics.
  • As the main motive, use the argument that when we brush, we make ourselves healthier and stronger.
  • Avoid stimulating with money, gifts or other external motivation.
  • Make sure both you and your child have comfortable toothbrushes and nice-tasting toothpastes (don’t neglect the fluoride ingredient! It is very important for a forming tooth). Pick separate flavours if necessary to make sure the child enjoys brushing.